I Care: Albie Aware helps women cope with breast cancer

Cindy Love gently takes the hands of Danielle Irvin-Peter, who complains about her “yucky” fingernails, an annoying side effect of chemotherapy treatment. Love offers warmth and emotional support to the 42-year-old mother of two, who was recently diagnosed with breast cancer.

But she also gives Irvin-Peter a check to pay for her next round of chemo.

“The people we serve don’t have time to wait for a cure,” said Love, executive director of Albie Aware, a local nonprofit that offers direct financial assistance to breast cancer patients, paying for diagnostic testing and helping with insurance co-pays. “They need help now.”

The foundation was started by Doug Carson in 2004 in memory of his wife Alberta “Albie” Carson, a local Realtor who died from breast cancer in 2002.

“Albie passed away because she didn’t have proper follow-up testing,” said Love, her longtime friend. Love often advocates on her clients’ behalf at medical appointments and in phone calls to insurance companies. The organization also offers educational programs to raise awareness of breast health.

“We help people get through this,” Love said. “There is light at the other side.”

To learn about Albie Aware’s upcoming fundraising events, go to albieaware.org/albie-events-news.

This story was originally published March 23, 2015 at 4:46 PM with the headline "I Care: Albie Aware helps women cope with breast cancer."